象思维局限性特征研究——兼从思维方法的角度答李约瑟难题

On the Characteristics of the Limitations of Image-oriented Thinking:Also an Answer to“Needham's Puzzle”in Perspective of the Way of Thinking

所谓象思维,是指产生于阴阳五行理论和象数易学,以元气、阴阳、五行和卦象等为基本思维要素,具有一定推演规则,并通过对诸思维要素的推演来建构多种象模型,进一步用这些象模型来解释并把握宇宙、社会和人生的一种思维方式。象思维的逻辑过程分为三个步骤:观物取象、象有其理、以象释物。象思维促成中国古代自然哲学和自然科学领域产生了大量象模型理论。但在以近代科学思维方法为参照的前提下,象思维显示出四种局限性特征:玄思性特征、感性化特征、普适性特征以及封闭性特征。由于这些局限性特征,导致象思维固然能够建构庞大的象模型理论,但并不能促成近代意义上的科学革命在中国产生。

The image-oriented thinking here refers to the variety of image models resulted from yin-yang and Five-element theory andimage-numerology of the Changes, which takes the prim.ary Qi （ vital force） , yin and yang, five agents, and images of the trigrams asbasic elements and possesses certain regularities of inference, and further applies these image models to the explanations and masteringof cosmology, society, and human life. The logical process of the imageoriented thinking can be divided into three steps ： taking images by observing things, exposing principles conceived in the images, and accounting for things by images. But when comparing theimage-oriented thinking with modern scientific thinking, the former shows four characteristics of limitations： mystery, sensibility, correlativity, and closure, on account of which though image-oriented thinking can give rise to theories of a huge all-inclusive image model it cannot lead to scientific revolutions in modem sense in China.